Middle school students who are attending a summer Career Camp sponsored by the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Division of Career and Technology Education will have a chance to use the resources of a state-of-the-art mobile biotechnology laboratory next week when it comes to the camp location at Sherwood High School on Wednesday, July 10, at 9:30 a.m.

The mobile MdBioLab will give students a hands-on opportunity to engage in the world of biotechnology by providing the means to solve a “who done it” crime mystery that reflects problem-solving skills needed in a real-life work setting.

Career Camp, developed to help middle school students explore career options, is a five-day summer experience for Montgomery County middle school students focusing on career exploration. The camp is currently located at three sites -- Gaithersburg, Thomas Edison and Sherwood high schools. Total enrollment is about 350 students.

The $400,000 MdBioLab was developed by a consortium of MdBio, Inc., and the Institute for Genomic Research, both private, not-for-profit organizations, and the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute. The lab is a fully equipped facility housed in an 18-wheel detachable tractor-trailer truck that provides the convenience of mobility and ready access for students in various areas throughout Maryland.